Electric lamp attachment



P 10, 1940- F. J. WHITE 2,214,357

ELECTRIC LAMP ATTACHMENT File d Aug. 20, 1958 lNVENTOR k/JN/(JMV/TE ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 10, 1940 UNITED STATES ELECTRIO LAMP ATTACHMENT Frank J. White, New York, N. Y., 'as'signor 6f forty-five per cent to Joseph H. Rush, Brooklyn,

Application August 20, 1938, Serial No. 225,888

3 Claims.

This invention relates to electric lamp attachments and more particularly to means for improving the operation of the ordinary electric lamp by providing novel reflecting means without requiring an increased consumption of electric current.

More particularly, the invention contemplates provision of an attachment in the form of a transparent receptacle in one of several forms, which can be attached, either permanently or detachably, to an electric light bulb or in a shade or reflector surrounding the same, said receptacle containing an amount of mercury.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein several embodiments of the invention are shown, Fig. 1 is a side elevation with parts in section, of the improved attachment; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same; and Fig. 3 is a side elevation, with parts in section of a modified structure.

With reference to the structure shown in Fig. 1, 4 indicates an electric lamp or bulb of conventional construction, the same having the usual glass envelope and being provided with the conventional threaded base 5 for reception in the usual socket. The invention contemplates the provision of a transparent or glass receptacle supported by the lamp or held in some other manner in close proximity thereto, said receptacle containing an amount of mercury. In Fig. 1 of the drawing, 6 indicates a receptacle in the form of an annulus or ring, preferably of glass tubing or other transparent material. The ring 6 contains mercury, indicated at 1, and in order to distribute the mercury uniformly around the interior of the tubing, the tubing is formed with a plurality of pockets 8 which serve to hold the mercury and prevent its shifting should the ring 6 be not held level while in position on the lamp.

Spaced at a relatively short distance below the ring 6 is. a similar ring 9, the same being shown as slightly larger in diameter than the upper ring 6. Ring 9 is similar in all respects to the upper ring 6 and contains the mercury I and is provided with the pockets 8 for the purpose heretofore mentioned.

The relative sizes of the rings, their spacing from one another and their positions with respect to the glass envelope of the lamp is largely dependent upon the lighting effects desired, within limitations of course, required of the lamp in connection with which the attachment is employed.

One manner in which the rings may be attached to the lamp is disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2 where a collar shown at I0 is detachably clamped around the lamp adjacent to the threaded base 5, the collar being provided with the lugs ll through which a screw I2 passes to hold the collar in position. Extending radially and downwardly from the collar I0 is a plurality of supporting rods or wires l3 which are looped about the rings 6 and 9 as indicated at M and to thereby securely support the rings in spacedapart relation, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Other means may be employed to support the rings 10 adjacent the lamp. In fact, the rings need not be supported by the lamp, but may be mounted in a globe or shade enclosing or surmounting the lamp.

In Fig. 3 a modified structure is disclosed, 15 wherein a continuous length of glass tubing 11 is employed, the same being in the form of a spiral or helix extending around the tube, the. convolutions of the spiral being spaced apart, and the upper end l8 of the spiral being held by the loop I9 formed on the collar Ill. The spiral tube I'i contains mercury 1 in the manner heretofore described in respect to the structure of Fig. 1 and may be also formed with the spaced pockets 8.

The amount of mercury employed in the structures described may be varied according to results desired. I have found that very desirable lighting effects are had by utilizing a thin film or coating of mercury on the inside surfaces of the walls of the tubes, the tubes being internally coated or silvered in the manner of a mirror. In other cases, a substantial quantity of the mercury, freely movable in the tube or tubes, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 may be employed. The shape of the tubes employed may also be altered according to the lamp used and the globe or shape utilized in connection with the same.

While I have shown and described one em- 40 bodiment of the invention, it is obvious that the same is not to be restricted thereto, but is broad enough to cover all structures coming within the scope of the annexed claims.

What I claim is:

1. An electric lamp device comprising an incandescent bulb having a filament therein and means for passing current through said filament, a base integral with said bulb, a closed annular member of transparent material around said bulb and in no way communicating with the interior thereof or receiving curent from the filament or from any other source, mercury in said member and distributed along substantially the entire annulus, a holder secured at said base and means projecting therefrom and gripping said member to hold the same in position.

2. An electric lamp device comprising an incandescent bulb having a filament therein and means for passing current through said filament, a base integral with said bulb, a closed annular member of transparent material around said bulb and in no way communicating with the interior thereof or receiving current from the filament or from any other source, mercury in said member and distributed along substantially the entire annulus, the lower edge of said member having a plurality of spaced, downwardly projecting pockets for holding mercury.

3. An electric lamp device comprising an incandescent bulb having a filament therein and means for passing current through said filament, a base integral with said bulb, a closed annular member of transparent material around said bulb and in no way communicating with the interior thereof or receiving current from the filament or from any other source, mercury in said member and distributed along substantially the entire annulus, the lower edge of said member having a plurality of spaced, downwardly projecting pockets for holding mercury, a second similar annular member spaced from but in parallel relation to said first mentioned member, said projecting means also gripping said second member.

FRANK J. WHITE. 

